Chapter Six: Brink of Death
*baka - stupid
*fuku - sailor outfit
"And now the androids have her and I don't even know if she's still alive!" Trunks related his story to his mother while she listened, sipping her morning coffee. He had to grit his teeth to keep tears from spilling down his cheeks. "I mean, the androids have NEVER knowingly let someone live. I can only hope she's not already dead!"
Bulma nodded, "you know where the androids are now?"
Trunks shook his head, "No! I can't sense them, they don't have a distinct energy signal since they're artificial humans, you know that! If they did take Chibi, I know they wouldn't leave her somewhere, they know she'd escape, so they would have to take her with them. I can only listen to the radio and try to find out where they'll be next." Trunks clenched his fists in anger.
Bulma thought for a moment, "what if you had a disguise? If I had a way to make you look like one of the androids, 17 of course, not 18, do you think you could fool his twin and escape with Chibi? It's a longshot, I know, but it's worth a try..."
"Mom, what are you talking about?! I don't look like Juunanagou at all! Even if I did, do you know how often the Jinzoungen are apart? They're almost always within a few feet of each other!" Trunks looked at his mother, trying to tell if she was joking or if she'd finally lost it.
Bulma motioned toward the lab with her head, "come on, Chibi left something behind that I want to show you."
Trunks got a puzzled look, but followed his mother nonetheless. She led him into her lab and picked up a pen. He thought she was going to draw or write something, but she placed it in his hand. "A pen? A girly pen is going to help me save Chibi?"
Bulma nodded, "this isn't an ordinary pen! Come on! Your mother isn't THAT crazy! Just hold it up and say something like, ‘Luna Pen, change me into Android 17!'" Bulma smiled.
Trunks shook his head, "ooookay Mom, if it'll really make you feel better, I'll wave my ‘magic' pen around and say the magic words," he rolled his eyes and said lamely, "Luna Pen, change me into Android 17..."
Trunks almost dropped the pen as a bright flash of light shot out of it. It enveloped him head to toe and when he could see again, he did a double take. He was wearing the EXACT same clothing as Juunanagou. Black shirt with white sleeve under it. Denim jeans with a belt at the waist and across the hip. A bright orange bandanna tied around his neck. His hair felt strange. It hung in front of his face and seemed a lot darker. "I have black hair?! He tugged on it to see if it was real, "Owch!" "Mom PLEASE tell me this thing has a reverse button!"
Bulma laughed, "wow, that thing works better than I thought! Um, you should be able to reverse it, just hold it in your hand and concentrate on being yourself again."
Trunks was only to happy to do so. In moments he was relieved to find he was in his usual clothes and his hair was the same shade of lavender it had always been. "What was that! You got it from Chibi?" Trunks held his head in confusion. This was just too much to handle!
"So? Are you up for it? Think you can fool ‘em?" Bulma grinned.
Trunks looked down at the pen in his hand, grasping it tightly, "If she's
alive, I'll make sure she comes back." *Even if I don't...*
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Chibi was exhausted. She'd been pulled this way and that all day. Sometime around noon she convinced them to let her change out of her pajamas. Not that the clothes they gave her were much better. 18 had the strangest taste in clothing. She took literally hundreds of outfits from the department stores they destroyed, but she never seemed to wear them. She wore the exact same denim skirt and jacket every day. Chibi shook her head, looking down at her new outfit, a hooded green sweatshirt worn over a black tank top and a much too short denim skirt. She was constantly pulling it down. She gritted her teeth in frustration. She couldn't escape, they'd either kill her or grab her before she got away from them. She couldn't morph either, 17 had seen to that.
Chibi couldn't believe all the destruction she'd seen in just one day. The twins were constantly destroying town after town, as if it were just a game to them. So many lives lost...
She just couldn't take it! Why did they spare her? Out of all the hundreds of people they killed in this day alone, why were they keeping her alive?
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"Ugh, that stupid android has no taste!" Trunks said, jetting through the air, once again in his disguise. The radio had said that the twins were destroying North City again, so he had jetted off immediately. He scratched at the orange bandanna around his neck, it was so annoying!
Flying at top speed, Trunks was there in no time. He followed the direction of the screams till he could actually see the androids. It seemed 18 was on another of her little shopping sprees. 17 appeared to be getting quite bored of it, while a young girl in a green sweatshirt and denim miniskirt looked like she was on the verge of tears. *Wait! That's Chibi! She IS alive!* Relief flowed through his veins. He was so afraid they would have killed her.
Trunks quietly crept closer as the twins continued their argument.
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"18 we've been looking at clothes for the past 3 hours! I'm going to go get some new capsules now and that's final!" Juunanagou set his hands on his hips.
"Well 17," Juuhachi began in her matter-of-fact tone, "if we didn't have to worry about your little girlfriend running away, we could both go and do what we wanted!"
Trunks hid less than a block away, easily picking up the conversation. He might actually be able to get Chibi and get away! If they left her, even for a split second, he could just grab her and run.
"Why don't you just take her shopping with you 18? I was sure you'd want another woman's opinion on all that stuff you buy..." Juunanagou started.
Juuhachi rolled her eyes, "And I thought YOU were so happy to have her. yeah, whatever, fine, she can come with me, but if she tries anything, I'm not gonna be held responsible."
17 was off before she could finish. She grumbled a few rather unlady-like words under her breath and walked to the nearest department store. "Get going! I want to try on at least a few outfits before 17 comes back!" 18 narrowed her eyes at Chibi who reluctantly followed.
When Trunks was sure Juunanagou was out of sight he walked casually out of his hiding place. He hoped 17 would be gone long enough for him to perform his little rescue operation. He tried to look nonchalant as he walked into the same department store he'd seen the two young women enter about 20 minutes previous. Trunks figured that would be enough time for Juunana to have been gone without seeming suspicious.
"Juunana? You're done already? I'm surprised, usually you spend at least an hour looking at the different capsule cars." 18 raised an eyebrow while Chibi just stood there, arms crossed, looking like she wanted nothing to do with either of them.
"Um, well, they didn't get any new capsules in since the last time we were here, so I just took the few they had left, not very interesting." Trunks shrugged, uncomfortable under the android's gaze.
"So, what do you want now? I'm not done trying on clothes yet." Juuhachi crossed her arms.
"Well, I'll take the girl off your hands and go wait outside," Trunks smirked as much like Juunana as he could.
"Fine, whatever." Juuhachigou went back to skimming through the hangers.
Trunks grabbed Chibi by the wrist and pulled her outside. She looked at him with such hatred he almost let go of her wrist. Once outside he pulled her into the nearest alley.
"It's me Chibi, Trunks." he looked into her eyes, carefully putting both hands on her shoulders.
Chibi squinted her eyes in disbelief which soon faded to recognition. "It IS you! How did you..."
Trunks pulled the Luna Pen from his pocket with a smile. Chibi almost burst into tears. He grabbed him tightly around the neck, "I'm so glad you came!" she sobbed.
Trunks patted her softly on the back, "it's okay, but we're not out of the woods yet. We still have to get away."
Chibi bit her lip and shook her head, "I can't..."
Trunks looked at her curiously, "why not?!"
"Juunanagou has my crystal. Without it, I can't transform. I'm totally powerless!" Chibi's shoulders dropped.
Trunks nodded, "I understand. How do we get it back?"
Chibi looked at the ground, "It's in 17's pocket. It'll be almost impossible to get back."
Trunks was feeling increasingly helpless at the current situation. He couldn't, no he wouldn't just leave her here. He had to help her, no matter what. His dream came back to him alarmingly clearly. He would protect her this time.
Chibi looked up at him, a strange sad expression on her face. He had the strangest feeling surging through him. He looked down into her eyes and nothing else mattered. He reached out his hand and brushed her cheek, moving his lips closer to hers. He bent down and kissed her lips, feeling her arms reach around his neck. The feeling spread through his entire body. His heart was racing, not from fear or exhaustion, but from this feeling. He wanted to stay right here forever, with her in his arms, but something brought him back to reality.
Trunks pulled away from Chibi. He heard two voices which he easily recognized. They were arguing this time rather heatedly. He had a feeling he knew what it was about. Trunks put a finger to his lips and peeked around the alleyway.
"Well where is she?!" 17 yelled.
"Baka!! You came in and got her yourself! I watched you with my own eyes!" 18 yelled back.
17 narrowed his eyes, "I have a feeling something is going on here. And I've no doubt that little purple haired kid has something to do with it."
Chibi's eyes widened. She grabbed Trunks' arm and held on with all her strength. "What are we gonna do?" she whispered.
Trunks shook his head. "You stay here, I'll go get your crystal back."
"But... but they'll kill you! I'll come with you! They won't hurt me!" Chibi looked concerned.
"No, I don't want to take that chance. Stay here." Before she could say another word, he was gone, walking toward the androids with slow, deliberate steps. The jinzoungen paused in their conversation.
"Well, what do you know, I have another twin 18!" 17 smirked. Trunks pulled the Luna Pen from his pocket. In a flash of light he was himself again. The twins both glared at him with their soulless gray eyes.
"Give me the crystal Juunanagou." Trunks said flatly.
17 reached a hand in his pocket and pulled it out. "You mean this? What would you possibly want with it?" he asked, throwing it up and down. "You know what I found out about this little trinket? Not only does it pack quite a punch, but without it, the owner will get weaker and weaker... well you get the idea. And if it were ‘accidentally' destroyed..."
Trunks clenched his fists, "Give me the crystal." he repeated.
"Hmm, no I don't think so." 17 threw it into the air again. Before it landed once again, Trunks rushed him, tackling him to the ground. He was quickly thrown off, but he managed to knock the jewel from 17's grasp. Chibi gasped and ran out of the alley. She ran for the crystal as fast as she could, but 18 was faster. She held the crystal up, carefully inspecting it and smiling.
Chibi's temper flared. Trunks was being pummeled by 17 and she couldn't do anything to stop it without her crystal. She had to do something! She couldn't just stand here while they killed him! Her emotions flooded her mind and felt like they would burst within her.
18 suddenly dropped the crystal. "Ow!! How did you do that?!" she held her hand as if she'd been burned. She looked at the crystal. It hadn't fallen to the ground. It floated slowly toward Chibi, emitting a soft white glow.
Trunks gasped as the air was knocked from him. Juunanagou was angry and twice as dangerous. He didn't stand a chance unless he could get more hits in. 17 still didn't have a scratch on him. His vision blurred for a few seconds as a jarring blow to his chin sent him reeling. This was it. He almost broke into tears. Everything was so hopeless. Another blow sent him to the ground. He tried to get up, but he didn't have the strength. 17 walked toward him and stepped cruelly on his left arm. He heard a snap and pain pounded in brain. He saw a bright light as Juunanagou charged up an energy blast.
Chibi grabbed the small heart shaped crystal and felt it's warmth flow through her. She felt words come to her mind and yelled them aloud, "Moon Crisis Make Up!!"
The power surging around her was incredible! This was the power Bulma told her about. She felt the ribbons wrap around her, forming her costume. She was entranced by the magic, her arms and legs seemed to move by themselves. Her hair wove itself into two heart shaped buns atop her head. White barrettes appeared in her hair and her crescent moon symbol glowed at her forehead. Her earrings were small crescent moons and her brooch became a gold heart with wings instead of ribbons forming the bow at her chest. A choker flashed at her neck, white, with a heart as well as a moon charm on it. Her sailor fuku was sleeveless with a purple collar and a white skirt. Purple ribbon wrapped around her waist and flowed down to her ankles. Her gloves were white and without trim, fingerless and coming only about halfway up her forearm. A pair of feathery white wings appeared at her back as her boots, white with purple trim, wrapped around her legs. Her sword was now golden hilted with a blade of silver crystal. It hung at her side from a white ribbon across her hips.
Trunks felt the blows stop and wondered if he'd been left for dead. He tried to open his eyes, but one was swollen shut. He took the opportunity to try to stand. He put his weight on his right arm and pushed himself up. His left arm hung limply at his side, bent at a strange angle on his upper arm. Juunanagou was busy looking at a strange white light not far from them. Trunks squinted, but his vision was blurry as it was. He hoped Chibi was alright. He hoped she'd stayed in the alley like he told her. Maybe it was just 18, deciding how they should kill him. Trunks felt compelled to walk to the light and trudged forward, painful step by painful step.
Chibi came out of her trance, once again remembering the situation. She saw the androids staring in disbelief at her, while Trunks tried to walk toward her. He held his left arm tightly. Blood dripped from his lip and several other wounds on his body. He didn't seem to even recognize her.
The androids quickly came out of their trance and upon seeing Trunks still alive, 17 sneered and kicked his legs out from under him, making him land face first on the rough pavement.
Chibi stared in horror, "Stop!! Don't kill him! Please!"
Juunanagou picked Trunks up by his black tank top. Trunks hung almost lifelessly in his grasp. He jerked at the sound of Chibi's voice. *She's in danger!! Why didn't she listen to me?!*
"Killing innocent people and destroying true love is unforgivable! I am pretty suited sailor soldier, Eternal Sailor Moon! In the name of the moon, I will punish you!" Chibi struck a dramatic pose.
"You think you can stop us just because you got a new outfit?" 18 laughed. 17 dropped Trunks and he hit the ground once again. He seemed like a rag doll, his arm bent at an awkward angle and the rest of him in a crumpled heap. He didn't move.
Eternal Sailor Moon felt a lump rise in her throat. She ran to him, shaking his shoulders, listening for a heartbeat, anything. She got no response. The androids just watched her, mocking smiles playing across their lips. She kissed his cheek softly, feeling the last bit of warmth draining from his face.
She stood slowly, drawing her sword. Tears ran freely down her cheeks, but she paid them no heed. "You obviously don't know the power of a Sailor Senshi..."
The twins backed up, taking up fighting stances next to each other. Chibi pointed her sword at them, whispering words of magic. She knew she couldn't defeat them both by herself, she didn't know what the extent of her new powers was yet. She finished her spell and a bright flash of light flared from the tip of her sword, blinding the twins. She had only minutes before they regained sight again. Chibi grabbed Trunks lifeless body, putting his arms around her neck and carrying him on her back.
It was awkward trying to fly with him on her back, but her wings soon adjusted and she disappeared from the small town within seconds, leaving the androids to rub their eyes.
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"Bulma!!!" Chibi screamed as soon as she was within range of the house. "Bulma!! Hurry!!!" She landed on the front steps, exhausted from the flight.
Bulma came running from her lab. "What is it Chi-..." she cut herself off when she saw her son. She covered her mouth with her hand in disbelief. "Is he..." she felt for a pulse, but couldn't find one.
"I can try to help him... it might work, but I don't know, I've never done it before..." Chibi started.
Bulma nodded, tears coming to her eyes. Her son was everything to her. No matter how much she joked with him about the androids, how he wasn't going to come back, how she'd have to start shopping for one instead of two, she'd never thought it would actually happen. She felt a hollow place in her heart.
Chibi pulled the silver heart crystal from her brooch, carefully causing it to float between her hands. She held it above Trunks, who now lay on the ground, trying to put it's energy into him. She knew the crystal had great healing powers but she didn't know if it was going to be enough. She felt her own life draining as she poured every ounce of energy into his body. Her hands trembled, but she wouldn't give up. She shut her eyes against the pain of her life energy leaving her body.
Bulma watched with tear filled eyes as her son's chest began to slowly rise and fall. She saw Chibi, exhausted, fall to the ground beside him. It was as if they were both in a peaceful sleep. Carefully, one at a time, she took them inside.